Dallas mayor declares emergency over West Nile virus

August 15, 2012|Reuters

By Marice Richter

DALLAS, Aug 15 (Reuters) - The mayor of Dallas declared astate of emergency in the ninth largest U.S. city on Wednesdayto ramp up efforts to combat the spread of West Nile virusinfections, which have been more prevalent than usual in Texasand other states this year.

Nearly half of the 693 human cases of the mosquito-borneWest Nile virus infections reported this year to the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention have been in Texas, along with 14of the 26 deaths confirmed by the federal agency as of Tuesday.

The Texas health department said this week that the numberof deaths in the state has increased to 16.

The emergency declaration by Mayor Mike Rawlings followed asimilar action last week by Dallas County officials and pavesthe way for aerial pesticide spraying to begin this week.

Aerial spraying also is being used elsewhere, including inneighborhoods in New York City and Sacramento, California, tocombat the spread of West Nile virus. Officials say suchspraying is the most effective way to fight the mosquitoes thatcarry the disease despite safety concerns about exposing peopleto chemical pesticides.

"Unless actions toward response and prevention areimmediately initiated, as hereby provided, avoidable seriousillnesses and loss of life is likely to occur," Rawlings said inthe emergency declaration on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the CDC said the tally of West Nilecases reported from 42 states this year was the highest recordedthrough the end of July since 2004. The number of infectionsusually peaks around mid-August, the CDC said.

Health officials said the reasons for the increased activitywere not clear. Factors such as weather, numbers of mosquitoesand human behavior contribute to when and where outbreakshappen, the CDC said.